Daisy Ella 342 views
Last Updated On: May 03, 2025 10:11 AM , Published On: Oct 25, 2024 04:30 AM
Ponti set a World Cup and European record of 48.40 last week in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, but his time of 48.81 was still fast enough to win. Although he could close the margin from 00.84 to 00.18 seconds, Nyls Korstanje finished second to Ponti, just like in the Shanghai race.
Ponti touched the wall, shook the water from his goggles, and re-established eye contact with his left eye, smiling with relief. Soon after, Ponti, with his goggles securely fastened, dove back into the pool to compete against four-time Olympic champion Leon Marchand in the men's 100-meter medley.
Before taking the lead in the breaststroke leg with a stunning 14.38 split, Marchand was in fifth place. Before Marchand's huge rush, Ponti was in second place, but he caught up to him on the freestyle leg and touched the wall together. Thomas Ceccon of Italy, who dominated the race for the first half, came in third.
Leon Marchand's New Swim Cap and Post-Olympics Mindset
Aside from his quick time and gold medal, Marchand's race was notable for the unique appearance he gave the pool. The French celebrity surprised the crowds in Incheon by departing from his typical tricolor and wearing the swim cap he had traded with Korean swimmer Lee Yooyeon on July 30, 2024, in Paris.
"This guy and I met at the Olympics. He competed in the freestyle 4x200-meter relay and was a cool guy, Marchand told Olympics.com. "I'm wearing the headgear that we exchanged today. It seemed like an intelligent concept to me. Thus, it has been enjoyable.
Kate Douglass Takes Down 15-Year-Old World Record in 200m Breast
Kate Douglass, the women's 200-meter breaststroke champion in Paris 2024, set a world record and won her sign event in Incheon. The USA swimmer crossed the finish in a timing of 2:14.16, almost five seconds clear of bronze winner Park Sieun of the Republic of Korea and runner-up Tara Kinder of Australia, shaving 0.41 off the record set by USA swimmer Rebecca Soni in 2009.
Douglass won the first of her two wins of the evening on Thursday, over two seconds quicker than her winning time in the identical race during the World Cup's opening stage in Shanghai. To extend her six-race winning streak at the World Cup, the 22-year-old also won the women's 100-meter medley, touching the wall before Yu Yiting of the People's Republic of China and Mary-Sophie Harvey of Canada.
Results from the World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024
Women's 400m Freestyle
- Mary-Sophie Harvey CAN - 3:56.78
- Kobori Waka JPN +07.31
- Siobhan Bernadette Haughey HKG +01.28
- Mary-Sophie Harvey CAN - 3:56.78
Men's 400m Freestyle
- Duncan Scott GBR +00.61
- Pan Zhanle CHN - 3:36.43
- Kieran Smith USA +00.72
Women's 50m backstroke
- Ingrid Wilm CAN +00.38
- Regan Smith USA - 25.71
- Beata Nelson USA +00.46
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 Incheon: Schedule
The three days of events will start on Thursday, October 24. The women's 400m freestyle heats, including the first medal up for captures, will kick off the Incheon stop. The men's 800m freestyle will follow.
World Aquatics Swimming World Cup 2024 Incheon: How to Watch Live
World Aquatics will stream the Swimming World Cup in Incheon in a few territories on their website. Eurovision Sport will broadcast every event for European fans, while NBC will broadcast it in the US.